Claire’s Faces Another Setback in the UK with Second Bankruptcy in Six Months

Claire’s, third time in the UK courts. The British subsidiary of the chain of accessories for children and teenagers has filed for bankruptcy for the second time in six months and only four months after its last rescue by the investment group Modella Capital. With more than 1,000 jobs at risk, U.S. global consulting firm Kroll has been appointed administrator of Claire’s.

In early January, Modella Capital initiated insolvency proceedings for the British and Irish subsidiary of the accessories chain for the second time in less than a year. The first time was in September, when Modella took over Claire’s UK business in a deal that has already led to the closure of 145 stores and the loss of around 1,000 jobs.

Claire’s currently has a network of 156 stores in the UK and Ireland, employing more than 1,000 people.

Claire’s has been experiencing difficulties since 2018, and it was last August when it entered bankruptcy in the United States

As Modella explained, Claire’s has “no realistic chance of becoming profitable again” because of its legacy, noting that its previous owners left it in a “highly vulnerable” position.

Founded in 1974, Claire’s specializes in jewelry, cosmetics, accessories and piercing for girls and teenagers between the ages of 3 and 18. The company, which has been experiencing difficulties since 2018, entered bankruptcy in August 2025 in the United States. Among the reasons for its entry into court was a bulging debt, falling consumption in its home market and rising costs due to the country’s new tariff policy.

At the end of August, the company transferred its business in its local market to the Ames Watson investment group, while in the world’s main markets its subsidiaries filed for the equivalent of bankruptcy.